Equine Handling Health & Safety

1. Equine Handling Health & Safety

2. NOW…! • Equine Perceptions • Equine Responses • Possible Best Practise: Approach Capture First Method Restraint Moving • Do’s & Don’t’s! • Advisable Health & Safety Precautions • Safety Summary

3. Equine Perceptions- Vision The binocular vision area is the only area that herbivorous prey animals such as horses, cattle and sheep can see objects focused, therefore if something is detected in the monocular vision the animal will turn its head to focus upon the object (decide if it’s a threat etc!)_ • Blind spot, approx 1.5m in front • Can not focus, therefore adjusts head position (if approach quickly just sees blurr) • Bifocal vision, for head down horizon viewing • Better night vision than humans • Sees in blue and green, but most images thought to appear greyish colour http://www.horses-and-horse-information.com/articles/horse-eyes.shtml

4. Equine Perceptions-Auditory Equine Perceptions-auditory • Structurally very similar to most mammals • With long cup like Pinnae to funnel sound and rotate 180° due to 10 muscles. • The horses ears can work independently and their hearing is binaural (hear several sounds concurrently) • Horses exhibit “Pryers Reflex” by pointing their ears in the direction of the sound detected • Range of audible frequency is much greater than humans both at high and low pitch

5. Equine Perceptions-Olfactory Equine Perceptions-auditory • Does not necessarily appear to be overtly used by horse, but is prominent sense well exceeding that of humans • Like with humans smell is thought to be easily associated and possibly allow for the triggering of memories • The Flehmen response is often seen upon detection of a distinct chemical stimuli often pheromones, but not exclusively, it is thought to occur to draw back the scent into the nasal cavity.

6. Equine Perceptions: Tactile Equine Perceptions-auditory • A social sense used for greeting and bonding both with same and other species • Vibrissae are used to detect elements in the environment not visible • And the sensitive muzzle is described to act in a similar manner to an opposable thumb! • Receiving grooming is both beneficial and most likely highly pleasurable. • Points of differing sensitivity. *1 *2 *3 *4

7. Equine Responses-Flight Equine Perceptions-auditory • As a prey animal the major behavioural response to any potential threat is to flee • This can vary from a shy to full flight The sympathetic nervous system (part of the involuntary/autonomic nervous system) is responsible for the flight or fight responses. In human personality types those of higher neuroticism find themselves easily upset or nervous from minor stressors, they have low activation thresholds (i.e can’t tolerate much arousal) and are unable to prevent or control emotional reactions. On the other hand very stable (low neuroticism) people have much more emotional control, calm and controlled under pressure. The same appears in horses as an element of ‘nature’.

8. Equine Responses-Fight Equine Perceptions-auditory Fighting uses energy. All animals typically reserve energy where possible. Fight responses are most likely exhibited when flight is not an option. An alternative response to flight or fight is a third response, “freeze”, this is known as tonic immobilisation. It is not typically used in horses but may occur when a horse is trying to assess a situation.

9. Flight Zones http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://www.extension.org/mediawiki/files/b/b9/Horseflightzone.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.extension.org/pages/15669/understanding-the-flight-zone-of-horses&usg=__HJ9LvFBZrAxErpa4XiBkeX4gRrA=&h=200&w=282&sz=11&hl=en&start=1&sig2=JiWqQuCWI0D55_La3mK1yA&zoom=1&tbnid=Z15wt_P7M-HW8M:&tbnh=81&tbnw=114&ei=eS4fT7mtNsGKhQf9zqH0DQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dflight%2Bzone%252Bhorses%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1 Equine Perceptions-auditory All prey animals have a flight zone. This is a personal space that when entered into by a “predator” will force a flee response. This is an innate response, but the flight zone is easily reduced and typically overridden by training, socialisation and habituation from a very young age. Moving in and out of a flight zone will cause and stop movement. A central axis is a point of balance, moving either side of this within the flight zone will cause a horse to move forward or back away from the handler.

10. Advised Best Practise: Approach Equine Perceptions-auditory • Approach a horse from the side…why? • Speak to the horse whilst approaching…why? • Consider your own body language. • Watch the horse’s body language…for? • Assess the horse…by? • Remain vigilant…for?

11. Methods: Capture Equine Perceptions-auditory • With tamed horse this is most likely through use of a head-collar or bridle • With non-tamed horse capture • should be done carefully using • knowledge of flight zone. • Having a veterinarian dart an un-tame • may be more ethical than using any other capture technique. • Other methods involve a horse • ‘joining up’ and submitting to the handler

12. Advised Best Practise: Restraint Equine Perceptions-auditory • Definition: “To limit, restrict or keep under control” • First Method of restraint is with a head-collar. Standard head collar. Adjustable at nose band, (throat) and crown. • Method: • Head collars buckle/clip on the horses left, so stand to this side • Place lead rope slowly over horses neck (own arm or shoulder) • Place nose band over nose • Move long strap up cheek, over crown and behind ears to buckle on the left

13. Tying a horse- quick release knot method 1 Tying a horse- quick release knot method 1

14. Tying a horse- quick release knot method 2 Tying a horse- quick release knot method 1 A horse should never be tied directly to a firm stationary item. Ideally tie the horse at eye/wither height

15. Advised Best Practise: Restraint Equine Perceptions-auditory • Second Method of restraint would • be a bridle

16. Advised Best Practise: Restraint Equine Perceptions-auditory • Advanced restraint methods and equipment • Twitches- Skin • Ear • Traditional • “Humane” Twitch • Prevention Restraint • Stock

17. Advised Best Practise: Moving Equine Perceptions-auditory • On horses left…why? • Stay back at the shoulder…why? • Turn the horse away…why? • Always watch the horse and environment

18. Do’s & Don’ts Equine Perceptions-auditory • DO • Continually observe horse and environment • Have knowledge of behavioural responses • Allow the horse to be aware of your movements • Plan handling and related procedures • Introduce the horse to new equipment gradually • Expect the unexpected • Use common sense!

19. Do’s & Don’ts Equine Perceptions-auditory • DON’T • Put yourself in a vulnerable place • Rush handling or procedures • Expect specific behavioural responses • Be too relaxed • Ever think that a horse a ‘bombproof’!

20. Advisable Health & Safety Precautions Equine Perceptions-auditory • Wear Safety Clothing: Helmet • Steel toe capped boots • Wear high visability clothing when on roads • Gloves • Have Tetanus Vaccination • Wash hands before and after handling • Be familiar with safe manual handling and lifting methods

21. Safety Summary Equine Perceptions-auditory • Prepare • Plan • Prevent • Assess • Monitor • Respond